FA CUP PREVIEW

There are some intriguing games over the weekend and Saturday's FA Cup fixtures look full of potential shocks - on paper.

Arsenal's disasterous Champions League defeat midweek - their heaviest European defeat in over 200 matches - effectively means the FA Cup is their only chance of silverware this season.

Boss Arsenne Wenger (pic)will want to see his side bounce back and Sunderland could feel the full force of the back lash. Many pundits have touted Sunderland to win this in what would be considered a small shock.

There's no doubt Martin O'Neill has done a marvelous job sonce taking over. But against the top six the Black Cats have yet to show they have enough about them to get positive results on a regular basis.

A home win is as big as 2/1 but that price is getting shorter as Arsenal have become friendless in the market and are a massive 13/8 with Ladbrokes.

Sunderland could welcome back captain Lee Cattermole after the midfielder recovered from a hamstring injury.

Striker Nicklas Bendtner is ineligible to play against his parent club, while David Vaughan (ankle) is out.

Arsenal have Gervinho available after returning from the Africa Cup of Nations but Per Mertesacker is out.

Kieran Gibbs made his return after four months against Milan so could keep his place in the side but Laurent Koscielny misses out with a knee injury. More important Oxlade-Chamberlain could replace Theo Walcott who had a shocker in Milan.

Arsenal have bounced back before and at 13/8 are the bet.

Bolton have been in miserable form in the Premier League but may have enough about them to get a positive result in East London. Millwall are also struggling in the league and have reserved their best recent form for the cup. There was a lot to like about their win at Southampton in the last round.

But Bolton still have top class match winners in Petrov and Davies (Kevin) and whilst David Ngog has been a flop since he arrived from Liverpool Bolton have the class.

They should probably be shorter and can be backed at 13/8 with Pinnacle.com

Blackpool are unbeaten in 2012 and look set for a return to the Premier League. Boss Iain Holloway is saying his current squad is now as good as his last team that won promotion. There's no doubt they are team full of confidence.

They travel to Goodison in great fettle. This will be a tough game and there may well not be much between the sides. If there is to be a shock on Saturday we can see Blackpool getting a replay. The draw at 10/3 in several places is worth consideration.

Especially as Everton have several injury problems. They will be without Phil Jagielka (knee), Leon Osman (foot) and Jack Rodwell (hamstring)

Seamus Coleman may return as could striker Nikica Jelavic who missed the Chelsea game with a stomach strain.

In-form winger Matt Phillips is Blackpool's only injury concern, after he missed Tuesday's win over Doncaster.

If Phillips is ruled out, on-loan Wigan forward Nouha Dicko looks likely to retain his place, after he scored Blackpool's third goal in midweek.

Norwich are flying and unless boss Paul Lambert makes wholesale changes they should see off a Leicester side that look brittle despite a host of former Premier League players in their line-up. They are just short of evens on the exchanges and that's worth a tickle. Or take the 10/11 with Pinnacle.com

The final saturday game is Chelsea v Birmingham at lunchtime. Defeat would almost certainly spell the end for current boss 'AVB'. Birmingham are unbeaten in 12, but Chris Hughton is interested in promotion and it may well be them that rest players not the home side. Expect a welcome home win but at no value for a bet. Chelsea re a best priced 4/11.

Published 18-02-2012

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